Sheffield Wednesday have emerged as a potential destination for Aston Villa forward Louie Barry this summer, with the League One club reportedly interested in securing his signature on a permanent basis. The 23-year-old attacker has drawn attention from multiple clubs during the current transfer window, but Wednesday appear to be among the frontrunners for his services.
Previous Transfer Collapse Opens Door
According to The Star, Wednesday are exploring a permanent deal for Barry, but Aston Villa are unlikely to command a fee close to the £3.5 million that had been agreed with Hull City last summer. That move collapsed after Hull were hit with a transfer embargo, leaving Barry's future in limbo. Instead, he joined Sheffield United on loan, but Villa recalled him following an injury, and he subsequently returned to Stockport County for a third spell at Edgeley Park.
Impact at Stockport County
Barry was brought back to Stockport to bolster their play-off push and quickly made an impact after returning to fitness. He scored a hat-trick against Peterborough United in County's penultimate home game of the season and also found the net against Stevenage in the second leg of the League One play-off semi-final, helping Dave Challinor's side reach the final. However, Stockport were beaten by Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. Across his three spells with Stockport, Barry has scored 29 goals in 56 appearances.
Loan Career Overview
In addition to his prolific record at Stockport, Barry has netted six times for Swindon Town, twice for Salford City, and once for MK Dons during previous loan spells. His versatility and goal-scoring ability make him an attractive prospect for Wednesday as they aim to strengthen their attacking options for the upcoming season.
